Gratitude works
Change your focus, change your life
A good friend read last week's blog and suggested that I talk about some intentional habits that have helped me get unstuck and move toward defining success, joy, and happiness on my own terms. Today, I'll talk about how gratitude has changed my life.
All of us reading this likely have enough food to eat, shelter over our heads, and the resources to have options on how we can spend our time. Intentionally expressing gratitude every day will change your brain. There is science behind it:
Since the Fall of 2022, I've started most mornings praying, journaling, and generally grounding myself before the day starts (before any news/emails/texts or social media). Here are some things I wrote in my journal last week that I was grateful for:
Monday:Â I published my first blog yesterday on Substack! I also got a great workout in as the sun was coming up.
Tuesday:Â I grabbed coffee with a struggling friend yesterday. I was able to make a difference simply by listening to him.
Wednesday:Â Yesterday was a tough day at work. So...I'm glad I woke up! (Some days are hard and the things you are thankful for might be smaller)
Thursday:Â Today was much better! It's amazing what sleep will do. I was able to make progress on the issues that yesterday seemed insurmountable.
Friday:Â For Sadie. She loves to be at my side in the mornings. (If you have a dog, you know!)
This may seem like a weird or corny practice to you. No one is immune from challenges. There are things going on in our world that are upsetting. I have no idea what you are facing. While we often can't alter the reality of our circumstances, we do have the power to intentionally shift our attention to the blessings we have. That’s where the magic is. Gratitude has changed my life for the better and it can change yours too. When you change your life, you remove the focus from yourself and are in a position to positively impact those around you.
Gratitude has changed my life for the better and it can change yours. When you change your life, you remove the focus from yourself and are in a position to positively impact those around you.Â
If you already have a gratitude practice, I'd love to hear about your experience in the COMMENTS below.
If you've never done it, try it this week -- for the next 7 days. Heck, try it for a month. It takes 5-10 minutes a day. Grab a journal or the Notes app on your phone and write down 3 things you are thankful for each day.
Share your experience in the COMMENTS section. Have an amazing week!
